Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-01-21
Explorations in Greenland.

Explorations in Greenland.
It was the Both OF May before we
sighted the coast, which appeared at
first as long low line of sparkling
points. Masses of heavy clouds con-
cealed the SUBMITS, but as we mp
preached, the panorama was fradua1ly
unfolded, the clouds lifted revealing an
endless array Of peaks, counterparts in
form of many Of the most famous noun
tains in the Alps, loaded with snow and
glaciers. At this time we were little
south Of Holsteinberg, in latitude 66
degrees, and next morning, when some
thirty miles further north the character
of the coast changed, the mountains
dwindled down to low hills, and they
retained that character for seventy
miles, exhibiting the unmistakable char
acteristics of ice eroded surfaces.
Rounded bosses wero seen everywhere;
the tops of the hills were clean gone,
and convex curves took the place of
craggy forms which were seen to the
south.
Six weeks elapsed since leaving Co.
penhagen before we arrived at Egedes-
minde, a settlement on the south of Dis-
ko Bay, into which VIC were obliged to
put until Jacobshavn harbor should be
clear of ice-a dismal place at that time
for every soul, Greenlanders, Danes and
all, had cough. Though it was now
getting we'll into June, almost the whole
island on which the settlement was
placed was covered with snow, and
belt of sea fretted ice was fixed all along
the shore just above high water mark.
Here I became familiarized with Green
land currency and learned the values OF
the coins in circulation, which were
mostly sAillings and half skillings, equal
respectively to about English farthinga
and half farthings. Silver was rarely
seen and gold never, tho higher values
being represented by bank notes of vari-
Gus amounts, which were often in an
understandable state OF grease and dilapi-
dalton.
Thus far we had not had any prospect
over the island ice, such glimpses as had
been obtained having been in vistas clos
ing the ends of valleys, Or through oc-
casional openings between couple Of
peaks; and to gain better general idea
Of it's nature, before proceeding, I as
cended an isolated hill on the west mar
gin which commanded very extensive
view. The morning was still and the
sky cloudless; and as I gradually rose
above the level Of the island ice I saw
that there were the usual banks of old
snow from last Winter extending all
round the margin where it abutted upon
the exterior land, and then came round
ed, dor1e-like slopes Of hard ice, such
as are common at the termination Of
most glaciers, containing numerous
crevassas. This hard ice extended only
few hundred ya1ds eastward and then
become snow covered. Beyond there
was scarcely sign Of a crevass, and a
mantel Of pure, unsullied snow
stretched east, north and south, as far
as the eye could see, covering every
thing completely. How far our night
extended none could say, for no one,
however experienced with snow and ice,
can judge distance with accuracy on q
snow field which has no marks upon it.
To the north and south the mountains
around the margin of the island ice
showed that the prospect was immense,
but they gave no clue as to the distance
seen to the east.
The nature of this view was most
agreeable surprise, for 1 had never con-
jectured that the conditions would be
so easy, or that it would be possible to
meet with such an absolutely complete
etlace1nent $50 to speak) of all the land
features OF continent, unlike anything
tons, but no declivities, and there were
slopes, but not single peak, nor, ex-
cepting at the very margin (where there
were small boulders from the contingent
rocks was there even a stray rock upon
the surface Hours.